Podcasts about little home

During the month of May, many states host an annual event on the governor's conference on "Aging." At these conferences, older Americans may learn new ways for healthy living and lifelong learning. Some time ago, my friend Mary shared an article entitled, "Nostalgia," which I feel may be interesting to our readers as they review the changes of the century. "Over the last 50 to 60 years, we have been witnesses to many changes in our lives...Here are just a few of them: We were born before cordless phones, fax machines and ice makers. Who ever heard of organ transplants or root canals? Horsepower was something to do with a horse. Callers rang the doorbell instead of blowing their horn. The fallout problem was something kept under your hat, and when folks sat down to dinner, they counted their blessings instead of calories. Guided missiles were rolling pins and frying pans. A babysitter was called a mother. A child had more brothers and sisters than fathers, and a car didn't wear out before it was paid for. A housewife canned food instead of taking it out of cans. Being a parent required more patience than money. Baths were taken once a week, and religion every day, and the only red menace was long winter underwear. $5 worth of groceries filled two bags, and when we were in school, the hard stuff meant algebra. We did without disposable diapers, velcro and scotch tape. Instead of the internet and the information superhighway, we had the party line. In our day, television was truly a luxury, and a black and white luxury at that. Tape meant to reel to reel, not cassettes or videos... and CDs were certificates of deposits, not compact discs, and owning a "hi-fi" was all the rage, and who could forget driving a Packard or a Nash? The only millionaires in baseball were the owners. Bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. Cars in our time met running boards, cranks, Model A Roadsters and rumble seats. A mouse was a furry little creature, not part of a computer, and the only babes politicians kissed were those in their mother's arms. We were before Hawaii and Alaska became states, Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, Snoopy, DDT, interstate highways, Holiday Inns, air conditioned cars and decaffeinated anything. We came from a time when we left our front door open. College kids swallowed goldfish, not alcohol, and in our day, songs had a tune and the words made sense. "Hippie" meant big in the hips. A trip meant travel. Bread came from bakeries, not the min. We were before microwave popcorn, child proof medicine bottles, and cars with cruise control. Streaking was what happened when you washed windows. Holidays were for getting together, not for getting away. And remember when a chick was a chicken, not the girl down the street? Tennis shoes were only worn in PE class. Bathing suits would cover your knees. And when you said, "I don't have anything to do," your parents said, "Find something to do!" In our day, we would swing and sway with Sammy K, waltz with Wayne King, dance to Guy Lombardo, and polka with Leo Greco. We have survived all of these changes and many more. What an exciting time to have lived." Warm Thought: Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80, anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Henry Ford. May you have many warm thoughts! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner. Published in the Marion Record May 21st, 1998. Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As I write this column, on the day of National Day of Prayer, many warm thoughts come to mind. Throughout the country, many students will be graduating from schools of learning this month. Graduation is both a happy and a sad occasion. The diploma a symbol of excellence in knowledge, is the inheritance of our youth. I am reminded of what a big, gray haired, soft spoken Professor Greek once stated as he handed out the diplomas. He said, "Young ladies and gentlemen, it is not possible for everyone to have a great intellect, but it is possible for everyone to have a great heart." Over a quarter of a century ago, I read an essay written by an unknown author entitled, "Two Easy Questions," which I feel I would like to share with you, my dear readers of this warm thoughts column: "It was graduation day, and as a teacher, I sat before the speaker's lectern. "Here we go again," I amused, "another boring, unimaginative, uninteresting speech." But how very wrong I was. The speaker merely said that he had two easy questions that he hoped each graduate could answer for himself in the affirmative. If any student had to give a negative answer to one or both questions, he stressed, then that person was in deep trouble. He asked the graduates, "Do you have the ability to love? Do you have the capacity to receive love?" I was moved. So was the entire audience. He went on, "There is an identification crisis in America. People don't know who they are or where they are going. They have no purpose. They are frustrated, and hate swells within them. If we don't love ourselves, how can we possibly love someone else? Hate blunts and stunts sensitivities and sensibilities. People attempt to erase this frustration and hate by eating too much, drinking too much and smoking too much. It takes people to help people become people. If we give love, we will receive love, but to love, we must love our bodies and chasten our emotions. We must not gallop and gulp, rather, we must pause to savor and sip. We all know that love is not physical, but our spiritual and mental and emotional complexities are so entwined with the physical that we must fight hard to make ourselves physically disposed to love. Love the bodies and chasten the emotions. In a world full of lonely persons, isn't it a tragedy for anyone to be lonely, alone?" Some time has passed since that commencement speaker, bless him, hurled those two questions at his audience...but they continue to echo and re-echo in my mind. He did, however, give us a clue, a rule to live by: we must find love ourselves. Very well, I'll begin there. I'll love myself. I'll educate myself, discipline myself, and think noble thoughts. What's more, I'll even try to make myself more lovable. It is possible for everyone to have a big heart. May the inspiration of wisdom and hope for the future be with our graduates in their journey through life. Congratulations to the graduates!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record May 14th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be just a couple of days before Mother's Day. Many families will be together on this special family day honoring their mother. Recently, I read an essay, a letter a mother wrote to her daughter. It touched my heart, and no doubt will be taped on a kitchen cabinet or refrigerator, and so I share it with my readers.Dear daughter, Although you are only four-years-old and will not understand what I am saying, I feel the need to write this letter and put it away for you to read many years from now. When you were an infant and the newness of being a mother wore off, I couldn't wait until you grew up. At first, I found myself wishing, "if only she would start walking," and then, "if only she would start talking." One day, I suddenly realized that you were out of diapers. You were indeed walking and talking, and pretty soon you would be going off to school. I remember the morning your father and I brought your baby sister home from the hospital. You and I had been apart six days. When the door opened, I saw you standing there with your angel smile. You seemed so big compared to the baby I was holding in my arms, it was hard to imagine you were once that small. I suddenly realized how much of your babyhood I have wished away. Being a mother is demanding. It robs you of so many freedoms, and I resented the fact that I had so many added responsibilities. And then I looked down at your soft curls and your trusting eyes suddenly, I felt ashamed. My heart almost broke. I cannot relive those first four years, but I have been trying to make them up to you and to myself. I hope and pray that when your first child is born, you will be wiser and more mature than I was. I hope you will enjoy every phase of your child's growing up and not wish they would hurry and pass so you could be free of the burdens of motherhood. You and I will have our share of heated words and angry battles in the years to come. There will be days when we will find it impossible to please each other. I will secretly wish that you would hurry and graduate from high school so I could send you off to college and be rid of you. Life rushes by all too quickly, my darling daughter, especially the lovely days and the beautiful times. Be smarter than your mother was. Don't let a single moment slip away unsavored or unappreciated, these days are priceless, and afford you the greatest opportunities for fulfillment. Never again will your heart be so full. All my love, MotherWarm Thought: Cherish each moment with your children and your grandchildren. Happy Mother's Day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record May 7th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As I write these lines, my thoughts are still centered on a hill outside Jerusalem. It is so overwhelming to realize God's love in our lives. Reflecting on Easter memories shared with family and friends, one finds in life meaning, purpose, hope, and love. Easter is the greatest celebration of the year, and should be celebrated every day. It is a joyous celebration of victory. The whole world becomes more beautiful at Easter time. For Easter ushers in spring, when all nature seemed as dead, there suddenly is life from brown branches and small twigs and stems tender green leaves come forth. The whole world is a veritable garden making a beautiful Easter offering. Have you ever wondered why the beautiful Lily is called the Easter Lily? The lily has been used to decorate churches on Easter ever since Civil War times. The desire of churches to bring consolation to those who lost loved ones in war made it natural to choose Easter, which is the promise of the victory of life over death, as the occasion for special services. The lily, because it is symbolic of purity and new life, was so widely used that it became known as the Easter Lily. April showers bring May flowers. The song tells us the showers will bring many blessings among them, the flower gardens of spring. Warm Thoughts: God never sends the winter without the joy of spring. God Almighty first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. Francis Bacon, "And of Gardens." This wish for Easter blessings is especially for you. So it's to be expected, warm thoughts go with it. May you have many Easter blessings!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record April 3rd, 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As families throughout the world look forward to celebrating the Easter season, I'm overwhelmed with many warm thoughts and memories. Memories of the place where all the events of Holy Week took place are so real and meaningful to me. Many times I relived that experience of walking the Via Dolorosa, "the way of sorrows" when I was there on my pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We all are pilgrims. And an unknown author wrote the following prayerful thoughts: A Pilgrims Prayer. "Lord Jesus Christ, you were once a pilgrim in the Holy Land. We too have come as pilgrims to journey with you into the desert to listen to the powerful word of the God of Israel spoken in our own deserts. We follow you into Galilee to understand and experience your ministry of presence and healing. We come up to Jerusalem to join the great crowd that came to meet you crying Hosanna. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We walk with you on the road to Golgotha and share in your passion seeing you nailed to the cross. We bow down before your suffering and dying. We journey with you on the road to Emmaus and discover you in the breaking and sharing of the word and the bread. Show us the glory of your resurrection. Open our eyes, our hearts and our minds, so that we may find you not only in ancient stones, but in the midst of your holy people and among all those who thirst for you wherever they may be. Write your gospel upon our hearts, send us forth, carrying the good news, continue to lead us and guide us on our pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem."More Thoughts to Ponder: A Simple Path by Mother Teresa. "The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace." May you have a joyful Easter season! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record April 2nd, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When many of you read this column, it will be National Day of Prayer, and large and small groups throughout our nation will be praying for the future of our world. In America, these groups are found in homes, churches, offices, factories, schools and in state and national capitals. These groups believe that positive prayer is power, and that behind all leaders of church and state, there must be prayer. Many years ago, I read some thoughts from Dr. Frank Laubach's illuminating book, "Prayer: the Mightiest Force in the World." He states, "We do not persuade God to try harder when we pray, it is our world leaders, our statesmen and churchmen, whom we persuade to try harder. When great numbers of us pray for leaders, a mightily, visible, spiritual force lifts its minds and eyes towards God. If they listen to our suggestions, we would probably be more or less wrong. But what God tells them when they listen to him, it is infinitely better for world leaders to listen to God than for them to listen to us." Most of us can never enter the White House and offer advice to the President. Probably, he will never have time to read our letters. but we can give him what is far more important than advice we can give him a life into the presence of God. Make him hungry for divine wisdom, which is the grandest thing one man ever does for one Father. Everyone who prays can be a builder of the future. Prayer Thoughts: "Prayer can change lives and it can change nations. A rich harvest is fulfilled by the seeds of prayer. Through prayer, we become richer in our hearts and warmer in our love." J. Carrie Sexton. "Prayer is the bridge that we throw across the space between our weakness and God's strength, a bridge over which he can walk into the hearts of men." Helen Smith Shoemaker. Pray for our country and our leaders! Warm Thoughts from Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record April 1st, 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

I've had many warm thoughts this past week, as I have been given cards, well wishes, flowers, thoughts and prayers. It has been uplifting to receive them while I'm recuperating in the hospital. On the day of my accident, the birds were flying high in the sky. It was a beautiful sight as they flew in formation, I couldn't help but remember what was written by an unknown author: "Unity: A Lesson from the Geese." As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds a 71% longer flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson - people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they travel on the thrust of one another. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. Lesson - if we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose takes over at the point position. Lesson - it pays to take turns during the hard tasks and sharing leadership, because people like geese are interdependent. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Lesson - we need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, not something less helpful. When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, either with another formation or to catch up with the original flock. Lesson - if we have as much sense as the geese, we'll stand by each other like they do. Warm Thoughts: Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. Spring is here. Enjoy! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta, G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record March 28th, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this column, many of you will be wearing green and celebrating St. Patrick's Day in your own sweet way. It is interesting that this day is a great day, not only for the Irish, but is observed throughout the country. The day is three days before the first day of spring, and wearing green reminds us of the season of spring and is symbolic of life. The wearing of the green on St. Patrick's Day has long been featured in our country. This little poem says it so well: "St. Patrick, it was who started the style, let's wear a bit of green for the Irish - a cheer; for the Shamrock - a smile. Let's all wear a little bit of green." In my research on St. Patrick's Day, I found that March 17th was the day St. Patrick died in AD 461. He was a Christian missionary to Ireland in the fifth century, and the founder of many schools and churches. St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, is their greatest holiday, as well as holy day, and this day is celebrated by Irish families all over the world. The Shamrock is Ireland's chief emblem. I found it interesting that a town named for it is in the warm sunshine state of Florida. Each year, many persons send letters there to be stand with the Shamrock postmark. I have always been impressed with the Irish wit and the Blarney of my Irish friends. I love their sense of humor and all those motivational skills they seem to be born with. I had always wished for a bit of Irish ancestry in my heritage, but in my genealogy studies have found none. I have chosen some very special friends who have been blessed with all that Irish wit and wisdom. One of those friends has her birthday the day before St. Patrick's Day, and we have been friends since high school days. We have shared our joys and sorrows, our challenges and our dreams. We shared those on the job training, experiences of parenting and now grandparenting. She is a true friend who revealed to me she has prayed every day for me. No wonder she is my cheerleader. How thankful one needs to be when you have a very special friend. As we see the signs of spring appearing, many warm thoughts fill our hearts and minds. Underneath that blanket of snow, there is life, and the snow birds of Florida and Texas are returning to the north and the heartland of America. May the season of spring have special meaning in our lives. A bit of Irish wit: "Where beauty has no ebb, decay, no flood, but joy is wisdom, time, and endless song." WB Yeats - "In the Land of Hearts Desire. A Warm Thought for the Week: "It is often just as sacred to laugh as it is to pray." Charles R Swindoll. Have a great week and remember to laugh and pray! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record March 17th, 1994Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Over a month ago, I received a telephone call from my sister, who lives in Colorado. She stated that in a few days, a new computer would arrive in her home. She told me the name of her computer, but I just forgot. Since then, I have asked her the computer's name and whether it was a boy or girl. Now this may sound strange to the faithful readers of this warm thoughts column. However, if you remember, even America was referred to as a "she" by former President Reagan, and you are aware that ships have been known as being female. Example, "steady as she goes," and "she's sailing great captain!" I'm not a scientist when it comes to computers, and my grandchildren are far more computer literate than I am. This is very interesting to me, and I'm sure you will find it interesting too. I was told that a group of computer scientists, of course, these were all males, announced that computers need to be referred to as being female. I really wondered about this, but I just reasoned that this might be because ships are female. However, their reasons for drawing this conclusion is spelled out in the following five reasons. 1. No one but the Creator understands their internal logic. 2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else. 3. The message bad command or file name is about as informative as if you don't know why I'm mad at you, then I'm certainly not going to tell you. 4. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for later revival. 5. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it. After the men came up with their scientific conclusive evidence, the women had to proclaim their scientific findings too. And so another group of computer scientists, this time, all female, came up with their brilliant thoughts on the matter. They felt they had scientific conclusive evidence that all computers in the future should be called male. They claim they have five good reasons to believe that all computers are male. 1. They have a lot of data, but are still clueless. 2. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they are the problem. 3. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have obtained a better model. 4. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on. 5. Power surges knock them out for the rest of the night. What are your thoughts on this? Do the scientific findings sound reasonable to you? Yes, what are your thoughts? I treasure the gems of wisdom and humor that the readers of this column give me. I asked my friend, and she just told me to ask my grandchildren. Until I know the answer, I will just keep on typing these columns on my very favorite IBM typewriter. She helps me think the best! More next week. "Never miss the chance to read to a child a story." Max Lucado Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record March 15th, 2001Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Each year on the first Friday of the month of March, World Day of Prayer is held throughout the world. Women of every nation, creed and color, gather together in a place of worship to offer their prayers in word and song. They offer their prayers for peace and reconciliation and have become God's ambassadors and prayer warriors to the world. World Day of Prayer has touched the hearts of many throughout the world. I believe it was Tennyson who once said, "More things are wrought by prayer than this world ever dreams of." So let your voice rise like a fountain night and day. Frank Laubach also stated, "Prayer is the mightiest power in the world. Throughout this world, many men and women are becoming more and more aware of the tremendous power in prayer." An unknown author once wrote, "When we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do. When we depend upon education, we get what education can do. When we depend on man, we get what men can do. But when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do." May every day be a World Day of Prayer!Warm Thoughts on Prayer: If you are going to pray, don't worry. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul. The fewer the words, the better the prayer. Martin Luther. The family who prays together, stays together. May each day be a World Day of Prayer!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record March 15th, 1996Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

In recent Warm Thoughts columns, you have read about the joy one receives when you really listen to children. Their words of wisdom not only surprise us, but their thoughts jog our minds to higher levels of understanding, for they are our master teachers. I was so pleased to learn that our governor signed a proclamation encouraging us to find a child to read to on March 2nd. This date is America's "Read to Kids Day." It is hoped that all states will become aware how important it is to read to the children. This is a nationwide campaign to encourage reading. There is great joy in reading to children and for families to designate a special time to read together. It encourages children to create their own stories and also develop critical thinking about the stories they read or are being read to them, listening to their creative thoughts helps us in celebrating special time together. Why was this date chosen for this nationwide campaign on reading? It happens to be the 94th birthday for Dr Seuss. So "color your world" and join in this reading campaign. "My Many Colored Days" is the last book published by Dr Seuss. Reach out beyond your world to encourage reading. Thanks for caring about our children who need our time to read to them. Warm Thought: Rediscover the exhilaration of laughter, the freedom of honesty, and the joy of simplicity through the lives of children around you. Paul Welter. Pearls of Wisdom from Students: Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd rather have been talking. Opportunity won't often knock for the fellow who doesn't give a wrap. From the mail bag - Recipe for life: Take two heaping cups of patience, one heart full of love, two handfuls of generosity, dash of laughter, one head full of understanding. Sprinkle generously with kindness. Add plenty of faith and mix well, spread over a period of a lifetime, serve to everyone you meet. Celebrate life by reading to the children! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record February 26, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

During this heart month, I would like to share some thoughts about teacher student relationships. I was recently made aware of a survey that was taken by researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo a number of years ago, the survey examined high school students perceptions of their teachers and classes. The researchers asked juniors and seniors in 18 high schools across the nation to write essays on various aspects of their educational experience. What were the likes and dislikes? More than 68% of the comments were directly concerned with the student teacher relationship. Students admired teachers who were informal, warm, fair, dedicated, competent, honest, curious, witty, understanding, and lively, and they wanted teachers to respect them as individuals and adults. Those teachers who did nothing more than lecture a whole period were found to be boring and monotonous by the students who favored a more varied teaching style that might include audio visual aids outside readings, class projects, and most importantly, discussions. I could not help but think, what would researchers find now in this 21st century? The sample that the researchers used was neither random nor stratified, but they believed the responses are representative enough to permit generalizations about the American students in that era. I also found in my files "Nine Rules for Teachers" in 1872 - there were only nine, not ten, but they were commanded by the administration. 21st century teachers may find them quite interesting. 1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys. 2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day's session. 3. Make your pens carefully. You may Whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils. 4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly. 5. After 10 hours in school, teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books. 6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed. 7. Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit, declining years so that he will not become a burden to society. 8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool halls or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty. 9. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves. Have a great day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record February 17th, 2000Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Lance Allen from CBS 58 joins to talk about Wisconsin sports. From Badgers basketball to the Packers, and where Aaron Rodgers might end up, Lance gives us his own insight. He also rubs it in that he's on his way to Arizona for spring training with the Brewers. Then Kristen Ambos with Point Mortgage Corporation joins the guys to talk about funding your new home. She also talks about using your mortgage to consolidate some of your credit card debt. Check out Kristen's podcast, Always On Point. Maino and the Mayor is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-9 am on WGBW in Green Bay and on WISS in Appleton/Oshkosh. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with Maino and the Mayor! Guests: Kristen Ambos, Lance Allen

Once again, I would like to take my readers to that one room country school where I experienced many warm thoughts as a very young student of the four R's. As I stated in last week's column, I would often look at the wall, where one would see the pictures of two presidents. These two presidents, Abraham, Lincoln and George Washington, became my hero presidents. Our Pledge of Allegiance and respect for the flag was a part of the old country school. Oh yes, I did whisper in that one room school, and since this was against school rules, I would often find myself standing in the corner of the room near the bucket of water with a dipper and a row of library books on the shelf. As I read the classics, I would dream of the book I would plan to write someday, I did learn that George Washington was known as the father of our country, and that he and his family had come from England. It was just a few years ago, when I was in Shakespeare country in England, that I was informed that George's family lived in that area before coming to America. It always impressed me that President Washington was the father of our country. This was a very impressive time in my life, and I gained a lot of respect for all fathers in our country who labored long hours to support their families. It was a time when many families faced challenges during those memorable Depression years. As we now look forward to our national holiday, Presidents Day, it has given me an opportunity to reflect on the thirteen presidents who have been a part of my life. It may be a day when many prayers will be offered for divine guidance for the President and the leaders of our country. A Thought to Ponder: How did the saying, "Let George do it," ever get started? Is it as old as the father of our country? Warm Thought: America has been built on faith and love in action. Our patriotic and national character is our greatest investment. Have a patriotic President's holiday. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record February 16th, 1995.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Perhaps some of my readers of this column will remember the days of the one room country school as the birth date of Abraham Lincoln on February 12th approaches. My thoughts go to the old one room country school, where I would often look on the wall and see the pictures of two great presidents: Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, who were both born in February. It was back in the good old days when both birthdays were a holiday. It was also the age when children were "to be seen and not heard," and one did not whisper, as "silence was golden." As we studied the life of Lincoln, he became my hero president, a man of great faith and courage. He was born in a log cabin living on the frontier. The family bravely endured many hardships and poverty. His mother died when he was nine years old. His father remarried and young Abe then had a stepmother, and Abe became a true son of the frontier. His life was filled with many disappointments, failures and losses. His sweetheart died and he was defeated in many elections. He faced many challenges, but was determined as President to do all he could do to save the Union. His famous Gettysburg Address has been memorized by many students. Many quotes from his speeches are still used today. His life and work has touched the lives of many. One cannot help but realize that the tangled failures that often occur in our lives can really serve as a thing of joy and beauty.Warm Thoughts: All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel, mother. Abraham Lincoln. The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. Abraham Lincoln. Live one day at a time! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marian Record February 9th, 1995.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

In last week's column, it was mentioned that January 21 is national hugging day. I also read about Thank you day being in January, and the last week in January has long been known as international forgiveness week. The other morning, I was listening on the radio and heard it say that a noted Doctor stated that "70% of the people would be released from hospitals in 24 hours if they knew they were forgiven." A French philosopher once said that "to know all is to forgive all." Among my heroes of faith are many missionary friends whose forgiving heart has taken them to their former captors. That is the story of St Patrick's, who went back to Ireland as a Christian missionary to take the love of Christ. A well known missionary and author of many books, worked among the people who killed her husband and other missionaries. There are many heroes of faith who live a life of daily forgiveness. Forgiveness is the mark of maturity. Life is too short to hold a grudge. Harry E Fausik once said, "Hating people is like burning down your home to get rid of a rat. The inability to forgive and forget is what makes someone sick." As we have many warm thoughts on forgiveness during International forgiveness week, may we remember there is a little remedy to ease the life we live and make each day a happier one. It is the word "forgive." Warm Thoughts to ponder: "Friendship flourishes at the fountain of forgiveness." William A Ward. "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Gandhi. "I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31:34. Have a beautiful forgiveness week. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record January 25th, 1996Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The home fires may be burning in your home as we together listen on the radio and watch TV about the travel challenges many are facing throughout the country. Upon my return from travel to Seattle during the holiday season, I was welcomed with 20 degree below zero weather. However, my heart was warmed as I listened to the phone messages and read the many cards, letters, and precious thoughts which I received - you all really made my day. Among the thoughts sent to me was a letter from my friend, Dr Green in Vermillion, South Dakota. She included thoughts from an unknown author, which I feel are so warm and precious and need to be shared with you, dear readers of this Warm Thoughts column. "When the song of the angels is still, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the sheep, the work of Christmas begins to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among people, to make music in the heart." I was also reminded the Lifelines Magazine that January 21st is National Hugging Day, and a dear friend in Florida sent me the poem entitled, "Hugs for Everyone." "It's wondrous what a hug can do. A hug can break the language barrier and make your travels so much merrier. No need to fret about the store of them. The more you give, the more there are of them. So stretch those arms without delay, and give someone a hug today." Thank you, dear friend - a hug for you across the miles. Words of Wisdom: Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears. Author Unknown. Instead of counting your days, make every day count in this new year. For all those who have suffered in the past incredible pain, may we remember that the light that sheltered the darkness can put together the broken pieces of our hearts. Author Unknown. Please accept my hug to help you, a true friend. Remember January 21st is National Hugging Day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record January 18th, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

This is the first Warm Thoughts column for 1998. An unknown author once wrote this New Year's thought, "What the new year will bring us depends a great deal on what we bring into the new year." Among the many Christmas greeting cards received were many warm thoughts: A Prayer for Peace. "Dear Lord, let this be a year that moves us one step closer to each other. Let this be a year that brings us understanding in our hearts. Let this be a year that fills us with a yearning, burning, feeling for peace with one another and a oneness, Lord, with you." The new year is a refreshing thought. It speaks of a new opportunity, a new beginning, a new start. It is a moment to consider again where we are going. Each new year finds us at a different place in our life's journey. How we approach the opportunity of each new year determines which way we are going. The new year is best entered when some fresh dreams have challenged the heart, when some steps of faith have been applied to plans, and when some consideration has been given to goals and objectives. The new year is ours to turn some corners and start an upward climb in our journey through life. More New Year's Thoughts: The past is my heritage, the present is my responsibility, and the future is my challenge. Lord, grant me the common sense to profit by my yesterday, the wisdom to live to the utmost my today, and vision to cope with my tomorrows. I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future. Best wishes for renewed hopes for peace, joy and success in the new year! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, January 1st, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Many warm thoughts crossed my mind as I attended the 20th Winter Commencement at the University of South Dakota. Amid all the pomp and circumstance, I was in the audience giving cheers to my colleagues for their achievements. Graduation at Christmas time with holiday festivities seems to have special meaning for many families. The commencement address was given by a very successful businessman, who also received the Distinguished Service Award from President Betty Turner Asher. The speaker, Doug Scholl, spoke on the "A" life - our advanced thinking can help us to give something back, we can soar with the eagles, our attitude is important in making choices...He warned us not to associate with people who hate. I was reminded, as I reflected on his "A" message of one of the many letters I received with holiday greetings. It was from Nebraska's 1995 Mother of the year, Jeannie Berry. She wrote that as we read the papers, our prayer is to close the door of hate and open the doors of love all over the world. Again, the Alma Mater song sung by the choir had even more special meaning as I listened, "South Dakota, how dear to thy children, thy name, how daring the tales offer retold of thy builders who first to thy wilderness came. There's a glory that never grows old. Oh, the pine crested peaks of these storied Black Hills, the Missouri that ribbons thy plain, where the slant summer sunshine so lavishly spills over prairie in pasture and grain, younger feet shall come trooping to gather thy wealth. Younger voices shall ring through thy halls, keep us true to the type of the brave pioneer, no hardship, air daunted his quest, alma mater lead on to the untried frontier. We follow the trail to the west." May these warm thoughts touch your heart during this beautiful holiday season.Warm Thoughts to ponder: Wise men still seek him. A Happy New Year to you all! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record on December 28th, 1995.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

It's a phoned-in episode of the Intentional Foul. Dan in Studio B while I'm at the house while some windows and doors are getting installed. But still a jammed episode! The Packers dominate the Seahawks in Seattle and are looking good with three games to go. The Bears get worked by the Vikings on Monday night...and Dan says changes need to be made from the top down. Week 15 results and week 16 previews. Plus the Aaron Rodgers documentary on Netflix. The college football playoffs start Friday with three more games on Saturday. Also the number of players from the Badgers entering the transfer portal is growing every day. College hoops with Marquette and Wisconsin. The Bucks win the NBA Cup in Vegas. Big deal/accomplishment? The Brewers trade Devin Williams. Plus just some thoughts about a month into the local high school basketball season. All that and more coming in this episode! Tell your friends.

Every year now, as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day approaches, my memories take me to the little town of Bethlehem. How special it was to be able to worship in a cave on the shepherd hills in Bethlehem, the night I worshiped in a cave on those Shepherd hills will long remain in my memories. We traveled the winding roads of those hills with Abraham as the driver of the bus called "the guiding star," and Elijah and Gabriel guided the driver as we sang those beautiful Christmas carols. It seems that the angels in heaven were helping us to sing on those Shepherd hills. I wrote about this unforgettable experience later, high on the hill in an international hotel in Jerusalem, and will share a few thoughts with you: "The lights from the bus brightened the way to the Shepherd's hills. We go. Gabriel did say, with Bible in hand, and friends so dear, "we were sure that Jesus surely was here." The guiding star took us through many a path. One hardly could keep from a having a laugh. I know God must laugh at us many a time as we hurry and scurry and not watch his sign. I wondered if ever we'd reach the site, and would there be warmth and would there be light. "My child, I'm here," I heard him say, "It is night and tomorrow is Christmas Day." I knelt with the shepherds at that humble cave, and we sang and worshiped and praised his name. The beauty and joy of this Christmas night will forever make remaining days bright." Let us all return to Bethlehem in spirit and remember what the angels sang on those hills so long ago. Peace on earth, good will to men.Warm Thoughts: Peace is not a season. It is a way of life. God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December. James M Berry. Have a joy filled Christmas season! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record on December 21st, 1995Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Christmas is a time when our thoughts turn to the special people God has brought into our lives, and as we remember, our hearts are warmed with love. Have you written that Christmas letter yet? Christmas epistles provide a capsule accounting of the important events which would otherwise be forgotten in the faded memory of our minds, they reflect for generations to come the love, joy and hope that were your footprints in the sands of time, even if others do not appreciate the exercise. It is a great gift to give to yourself and your family, the gift of memories. I received from Jane Graff the "10 Commandments of Christmas Letters," and felt you would appreciate reading these commandments. #1: Keep it short! More than what fits comfortable on an 8x11 sheet probably will get laid aside to be read after the holidays, if at all. #2: Present an overall approach to the year, rather than a daily diary, much of which could be considered...who cares. #3: The intermingling to joyous and sad events, takes skill. And while these are part of life, the ongoing theme of joy and hope should come through. #4: Since this is used as a means of communications on an annual basis, bringing people up to date is part of the task. Going back through plowed ground in great detail is not needed or appropriate. Phone calls or further correspondence can be directed to or from people who are interested in knowing all about it. #5: Depending on the number of children and their ages, information on each should range from brief to none. If the children are interested in keeping in touch with relatives, they will do their own epistle. #6: The reason for the season is the focus of the exercise. Thanks be to God that Christmas comes whether we are ready or not, but that it comes once a year is important in keeping the address book current. #7: Some wait, sending only to people who write to them. However, I feel that every friend I have is worth the price of a stamp. It is good to get letters out so that cards coming back carry news and information about what is going on in their lives. #8: The understatement is always the password when describing the accounts of brag items - certainly noteworthy and needed, the wording about awards or events should be tastefully done. #9: Room for a short personal note is also a thoughtful consideration. The unsigned, photo copied letter may be viewed by some much as a card with only an insscribed name, asking about specific events or happenings in their lives invites a long term two way communication. #10: Keep a complete file of your Christmas epistles for the records, even if some look upon this exercise with a certain amount of humor or even disdain, it is for you and your family. The Chronicles of your children or grandchildren, along with Candid snapshots through the years, provide a unique glimpse into their heritage. Thanks, Jane for those 10 Commandments. These 10 Commandments of Christmas Epistles will be appreciated by many of the Warm Thoughts readers who write those great, informative, scholarly, and precious Christmas Epistles. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in The Marion Record, December 10th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

It is National Family Week. As I write this warm thoughts column, families have traveled from far and near to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. There is more travel over the Thanksgiving weekend than any other time of the year. How wonderful for families to be together and celebrate the family ties. Every day is a day to celebrate the family. In today's world, there is a concern about the family and their relationships. Peter Marshall once wrote, "We are not willing to risk losing the love in our relationship with our children by persevering with them in matters of discipline, the biggest single cause of the breakdown of the American family is that so much of what we could call love, the Puritans would have another name for...idolatry." Unlike most modern parents, the Puritans knew that their children did not belong to them. They belonged to God. Consequently, they did not possess them. On the contrary, they considered that their children had been entrusted to their care by God. They were to protect them, raise them and teach them, training them up in the way that He would have them go. Parenthood was sacred responsibility. Arnold H Glass once stated, "The family fireside is the best of schools. Families that are built on love, respect and togetherness, instead of social climbing or the pursuit of successful careers. Our nation's hope for survival. Every joy shared adds more love. Every crisis faced together makes the family stronger."Think about it, how do strong families provide stability for a nation? Your kindness influences your children, your humor influences your home, your joy influences your actions, your service influences your society. A nation is only as strong as its families. God made us a family. We need one another, we love one another, we forgive one another, we work together, we play together, we worship together together. We use God's Word together. We grow in Christ together. We love all men together. We serve our God together. We hope for heaven. An unknown writer once stated that, "A happy family is an early heaven." Thank God for our loving and caring, strong families throughout the world. Have a joy filled holiday season! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, December 3rd, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Thanksgiving Day. Have you wondered about that first Thanksgiving Day? I found it very interesting that 200 years ago, in 1789 George Washington declared November 26th the official day of Thanksgiving. This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 26th. After 1789, the States continued to celebrate on different days. It was Sarah Hale, an editor of a women's magazine in Boston, who waged a 30 year letter writing campaign to governors and the presidents, urging them to make Thanksgiving Day a national holiday and to pick one day for the celebration. President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of National Thanksgiving in 1863. Franklin Roosevelt pushed Thanksgiving into December in 1939 but two years later, it was moved back to the present, fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving really dates back to October 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Many of the pilgrims who had come over on the Mayflower the previous year had died, and the survivors had weathered a severe winter, but their fortunes had changed by the spring and summer, and they had good crop harvests, thanks to the help of a local tribe, the Wampanoags. To celebrate the better times, the Pilgrims declared a holiday so that all might, after a more special manner, rejoice together. The Pilgrims did not forget the hard times, and they had a custom of putting five kernels of corn on each empty plate before a dinner was served. These five kernels were chosen because prior to that first harvest, things were so bad that the daily ration was five kernels of corn per person per day. That custom of the pilgrims is a reminder for us to reflect upon our blessings, which are given to us by a gracious, generous God. Thanksgiving is a day of reflection on all that America has, our freedom, and our bounty. Every day is a day of thanksgiving and thanks living. I am reminded what the late A W Tozer once wrote about the habit of thanksgiving. He stated that "Thanksgiving will cure a host of injurious evils in our dispositions, self pity, resentment, murmuring and fault finding. All these will wither and die of themselves. For how can they grow inside a heart overflowing with gratitude and praise?" An unknown author wrote these prayerful thoughts, "Lord, we thank you for the privilege of living in a land of opportunity and beauty and plenty. We thank you for a religious heritage and freedom to worship as we may desire. We thank you for houses of worship that point fingers of stone towards heaven. We thank you for friends across the street, throughout the land, and around the world. We thank you for friendly nations on our borders and the ability to help the less fortunate in our own and other lands. We thank you for fertile fields swathed in robes of golden grain, for rolling plains blanketed with herds of lowing cattle, for majestic mountains ribbed with an ooze of steel. We thank you God for strength to work, for minds to plan and hearts to appreciate all good things from heaven." Happy Thanksgiving!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record November 26th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Are you making preparation for the family Thanksgiving? This week, I will share some thoughts from the book, "Just Folks," by a very favorite author, Edgar A Guest. The Old Fashioned Thanksgiving. "It may be I am getting old, and like too much dwell upon the days of bygone years, the days I love so well. But thinking of them now, I wish somehow that I could borrow a simple old Thanksgiving Day like those of long ago. When all the family gathered round a table richly spread with little Jamie at the foot and Grandpa at the head, the youngest of us all to greet the oldest with a smile, with mother running in and out and laughing all the while. It may be I'm 'old fashioned,' but it seems to me today we're too much bent on having fun to take the time to pray. Each little family grows up with fashions of its own. It lives within a world itself and wants to be alone. It has its special pleasures, its circle, too of friends. There are no get together days. Each one his journey, wends. Pursuing what he likes the best in his particular way, letting the others do the same upon Thanksgiving Day. I like the olden way the best when relatives were glad to meet the way they used to do. But when I was but a child, the old homestead was a rendezvous for all our friends and kin, and whether living far or near, they all came trooping in with shouts of "Hello, daddy!" as they fairly stormed the place and made a rush for mother, who would stop to wipe her face. Upon the gingham apron before she kissed them all, hugging them proudly, to her breast, the grown ups and small. Then laughter rang throughout the home, and oh, the jokes they told - from Boston, Frank brought new ones, but Father sprang the old. All afternoon, we chatted, telling what we hoped to do, the struggles we were making and the hardships we'd gone through. We gathered round the fireside, how fast the hours would fly, it seemed before we'd settle down, it was time to say goodbye. Those were the glad Thanksgivings, the old time families knew. When relatives could still be friends, and every heart was true." I enjoyed these thoughts so much by Edgar Guest, that I felt I just had to share these thoughts with you, the dear readers of this warm thoughts column. Thanks for sharing your thoughts during the holiday season! More warm thoughts: We derive the greatest joy from the fact that we have people to love. Martin Luther. A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues. Cicero. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, sometime in November.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

November. Can it really be November? Already, it seems, the year has it's last flare of youth in October. In November, the earth folds its hands, hands that have been trained in the lesson of content and waits for that garment of snow. We have had some very beautiful autumn days this year, days for travel. No, I did not travel to Florida for that historic launch into space, but I did manage the trip to Nebraska, and while there, attended a 50th wedding anniversary of dear friends who live in Seward Nebraska, that Fourth of July city. It was so special to be able to share at that golden celebration a poem I wrote, and so I will also share the poem with the readers of this warm thoughts column. 50 Years of Happiness. It may seem to you like yesterday, yet 50 years have passed away. Since at the altar you stood side by side a very young groom with his happy bride. And now your children's children stand close, gathered round and eager band. You may recall with smiles and tears the joys and griefs of those 50 years. For you have known the cares of life, sweethearts you were as man and wife. Yet you have not loved each other less through those 50 years of happiness. And now, as you are turning gray, you still trust in God your guide and stay. He's your constant and unchanging friend. He'll lead you both to your journey's end. At a time when the average marriage is lasting seven years, it is certainly commendable that there are still some marriages who can celebrate that golden anniversary. Cheers to Les and Dorothy! More Warm Thoughts: "Grow old with me. The best is yet to be." Browning. "The glory of green grasses fades away like shadows in the quiet autumn night, the golden leaves descend like birds in flight and in them, squirrels, like children, run and play." May you have many warm thoughts these autumn days!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea written by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, November 5th, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

A recent warm thoughts column provided information about Make a Difference Day, which is October 26th. It is a day when everyone is encouraged to make a difference in their community and world by making it a Day of Caring, an annual National Day of helping others. Across the nation, about 1 million Americans will help others on this Make a Difference Day. Can one person make a difference? We are aware that there have been many difference makers in history, to name a few. We remember that Thomas Edison brought us out of darkness and into electric light. Henry Ford gave us the Model T. Eli Whitney gave us the cotton gin. Ben Franklin provided your bifocals. John Bunyan guided the progress of millions of pilgrims. Then there was Columbus, Lincoln Beethoven, Einstein, and many others who made a difference. Our lives can be blessed by a caring community. I personally experienced this following a car accident that took six months of recovery. The outpouring of love and compassion was phenomenal. Over 600 cards and prayerful letters of encouragement for a speedy recovery were received. Visits and telephone calls from all parts of the country. A surprise call even came from caring friends who live in Switzerland and England. One afternoon, I experienced a caring community with their points of light and how they certainly can light up one's life and make a difference. I am very thankful for the caring communities around the world, whoever you are and wherever you are, thanks for all your caring. Warm Thoughts: Caring is a garden where love grows. The world is blessed by people who care. The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor. Hubert H Humfrey. A little time to care for others, a little time to share with others. That's what makes someone like you so nice to know and to be with too. Helen Steiner Rice. October 26th is National Make a Difference Day!Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record October 17th, 1996Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

While in southern Nebraska on a weekend retreat, my daughter called the Little Home on the Prairie from Texas. Thanks to answering machines, she informed me that in their area in Texas, they got their first cold front. The temperature got to a lovely 70 degrees. I also was made aware that Boulder, Colorado had a storm, no school, and in Denver, many of the trees were destroyed because of an ice storm. And my friend in Florida informs me about the challenges their state experiences in Love Bug month. This time traveling back home throughout the heartland of America, I saw many fields not yet ready for harvest that had been damaged by the early frost. It brought back memories of the challenging years that many of us experienced as a child in those years of depression, which now seem to be history. I thought about what a Nebraska woman wrote in her best years should be now...She went on to state that she now has a beautiful home in a lovely neighborhood, an expensive new car, anything I want to eat, a hard working husband and good health. She then went on to state that her best years were in being a kid in the depression years, even though she lived in an old house with no running water and wore hand me down clothes, she didn't realize it was a depression, as she had a lovely family, and there were no concerns about who would be the next president or if another war might start. As I traveled along in my thoughts, I couldn't help but remember what a wise man once stated, "though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord," from Habakkuk. A Thought to Ponder: "Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul." Henry David Thoreau. Share a warm thought with someone each challenging day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, October 5th, 1995.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

A recent article I read states that the United Nations General Assembly has designated 1999 as International Year of Older Persons. The theme will be "Towards a Society of All Ages." This theme was chosen to promote the philosophy that societies should be inclusive in nature, should embrace all population groups, and share their resources equally. October 1st, 1998 will be the day that the UN launches this year long celebration, which is also the International Day of Older Persons, having its beginning in 1990. The United States Planning Committee for this unique year recognizes aging as multi-dimensional and spanning every individual's lifelong development, the importance and contribution of Older Persons to intergenerational richness, the heterogeneity of the older population, and it's concern about the continuing poverty of many older persons and the necessity to provide adequate health care in the later years. The committee seeks to create opportunities for all of our citizens to understand, appreciate, and celebrate the contributions to nation, community, and family of older persons as citizens, caregivers, volunteers, and workers. The committee is working to focus attention on the challenge to our nation to ensure that the increases in life expectancy are matched by the increased opportunities for older persons to find fulfillment to these years. It also recognizes education as an enterprise that is lifelong and takes place in many different settings. It is the mission of this committee to encourage thoughtful planning of intergenerational projects, seminars, discussion groups and ethnic and cultural heritage programs in educational systems, corporations, religious organizations and the public and private sector. So dear readers of this warm thoughts column, be looking for special events in our community and be an active participant in this year honoring many of you.Grandma and Grandpa: "I like to walk with grandma and grandpa. Their steps are shorter like mine. They don't say, 'Now, hurry up!' They always take their time. I like to walk with grandma and grandpa. Their eyes see things mine do. Wee pebbles bright, a funny cloud, half hidden drops of dew. Most people have to hurry. They do not stop and see, I'm glad God made grandma and grandpa unrushed and young like me." Author unknown. Celebrate "Towards a Society of All Ages" all year. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record, October 1st, 1998Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, one of the readers of this column from Texas sent me an article entitled, "We Are Survivors: Consider the Changes We Witnessed." I thought it appropriate to share some of the thoughts from this article. Individuals who were born prior to 1945 will especially understand the changes in their lives. "We were before television, before penicillin, before polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, frisbees and the pill. We were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens. Before pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip dry clothing and before man walked on the moon. In our times, bunnies were small rabbits and rabbits were not Volkswagens. We were before daycare centers, group therapy and nursing homes. We never heard of FM radio, tape decks, electric typewriters, artificial hearts, word processors, yogurt, and guys wearing earrings. For us, time sharing meant togetherness, not computers or condominiums. A chip meant a piece of wood. Hardware meant hardware and software wasn't even a word. In our day, grass was mowed. Coke was a cold drink, and pot was something you cooked in. Rock music was grandma's lullaby, and pizzas, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We thought fast food was what you ate during Lent and outer space was the back of a local theater. We hit the scene when we were five and ten stores where you bought things for five and ten cents. The corner drug store sold ice cream cones for a nickel or a dime. For one nickel, you could ride a streetcar, make a phone call, buy a Pepsi, or enough stamps to mail one letter and two postcards. You could buy a new Chevy coop for $600 but who could afford one? A pity too, because gasoline was only 11 cents a gallon, and we got married first, and then lived together, and we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think you needed a husband to have a baby. But we survived!" Warm Thoughts: Seasons change, and so do people. For me, managing change quite literally meant "survival." Terry Anderson. May you have many warm thoughts every day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, September 26th, 1996 Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

One of the very faithful readers of this Warm Thoughts column recently sent me an article entitled, "You Can Make a Difference." It was an article informing the public to take action on October 26th and make that day a day of caring, a national day to inform us that the Make a Difference Day can help everyone to help others. The sixth annual event, in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation, takes place on October 26th. Mark your calendar! How do you plan to spend Make a Difference Day? It may be a month away, but it is not too early to think about what you can do to help your community pull together a project for the day. You can also make a difference in the life of even one lonely shut in, give a helping hand to a busy mother, write a letter of cheer to someone in need of an encouraging word, or touch the life of a child by sharing the gift of time with that child. Perhaps Saturday, October 26th does not fit into your schedule. Then make it October 17th for a day that will also make a difference day for you or someone in need.There is no age limit for this Make a Difference Day. The stories of volunteers are very heartwarming. In Maryland, 10 year olds gave personal items to an older friend. Two retired teachers in Selma, Alabama befriended a 96 year old widow, helping her to continue to live independently. And in Washington State, friends celebrated their 50th birthday by collecting 7,500 pounds of food, clothing, and blankets for an emergency network. Perhaps this Make a Difference Day can focus on your regular service project in the church or community. If you want a big impact on Make a Difference Day, pull the community together to blitz a needed project or solve an existing need in the community. Just think about it. Will you make a difference? One person can make a difference. Will it be you? Warm Thoughts to Ponder: Give what you have to someone, it may be better than you dare to think. Longfellow. Remember October 26th is Make a Difference Day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, September 19th, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Some time ago, a dear friend and great grandma who has faced many emotional challenges in her life, shared some thoughts about counting. This dear friend regularly reads this Warm Thoughts column and wanted to share the thoughts by an unknown author with all you dear readers out there, somewhere. We live in an age where we have many choices and changes. Some time ago, I heard someone state that "pain is inevitable, but misery and being miserable is a choice." In the School of learning and hard knocks, the following thoughts may warm our hearts and perhaps motivate us in our own countdown. "Count your blessings instead of your crosses, count your gains instead of your losses. Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears, count your full years instead of your lean. Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth. Count on God instead of yourself." Thanks to your friend for sharing these warm thoughts. Your thoughtful gift of sharing, perhaps touched some dear soul who takes time to read and live these thoughts. A Thought to Ponder: Choose carefully the company you keep, for you may become what they are.A Warm Thought: Choose carefully the memories you live with. Have a beautiful day counting your blessings! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, September 7th 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, I read a very interesting article on the challenges of aging. Studies by the experts state that "the generation who are celebrating their 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries have succeeded in kicking the blabbers out of the stereotypes of aging." Perhaps this can be explained by one word - attitude. The experts stated, "the attitudes of a 70-year-old today are equivalent to those of a 50-year-old, but only a decade or two ago." It is interesting how many couples are in their 50th, 60th and even 70th wedding anniversaries. More individuals are also reaching that century mark. The late George Burns stated, "I see people who, the minute they get to be 60, start rehearsing to be old. They practice when they sit down and grunting when they get up, and by the time they get to be 70, they're a hit. They've got the part - they're old." I like to think that the streams of life bring depth and wisdom in our lives. Goth finished his Faust at 81. At 80, Verdi produced his famous Falstaff. Tennyson wrote "Crossing the Bar" at 83. Valtaire was still penning plays at 84. Monet was painting great pictures at 86. Marian Baininray in "The Stillness is Dancing" says, "At 50, the mind has yet to reach its zenith. At 60, it as at its best, and then declines gradually that at 80, those who have kept themselves mentally alert can be just as productive as at 30. Judgment and reason may have actually improved and creative imagination is scarcely touched by age. I think Mark Twain says it best, "Age is mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Warm Thoughts: If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy. The old are the precious gems in the center of the household. Chinese proverb. Have many warm thoughts every day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, August 19, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

August is the time of year that families take that last fling and perhaps go to the mountains before school starts. It is often a quiet time of reflection, a time to reflect on many happy summertime activities. At a quiet moment, I discovered some beautiful thoughts by an unknown author that I'd like to share with my loyal readers of the Warm Thoughts column."In this special moment in life...think freely, practice patience, smile often, savor special moments, make new friends, rediscover old ones. Tell those you love that you do. Feel deeply, forget trouble, forgive an enemy. Hope, grow, be happy and joyful. Count your blessings. Observe miracles, let them happen. Discard worry, give, give in, trust enough to take. Pick some flowers, share them. Keep a promise. Look for rainbows, gaze at the stars. See beauty everywhere. Work Hard, be wise, try to understand. Take time for people, make time for yourself. Laugh heartily, spread joy. Take a chance, reach out, let someone in. Try something new. Slow down, be soft sometimes. Believe in yourself. Trust others. See a sunrise, listen to rain. Reminisce, cry when you need to, trust life. Have faith, enjoy wonder, comfort a friend. Have good ideas. Make mistakes, learn from them. Celebrate life." Author, unknown. More Warm Thoughts: See a silver lining in every cloud. Enjoy the Beautiful Sunsets. Have many warm thoughts every day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner.Published in the Marion Record, August 15th, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Summertime. Good old summertime! It is a good time to get in some summer reading. My grandchildren from Ohio sent me the book, "If Tea Cups Could Talk," by Emily Barnes. I have enjoyed reading the many warm thoughts in this book over a cup of tea. I've also had many special moments with the grandchildren, as we have our tea party. I have learned some interesting lessons about tea cups. China dishes recovered from shipwrecks are often good as new, long after the ship itself has dissolved in the salt water. Porcelain is fragile, but it is also remarkably durable, like us. Like life, humans are beautiful and breakable. Like tea cups, humans can heal and grow and move beyond disaster. We can reach out to one another in encouragement and comfort. Nancy Reagan has stated that, "a woman is like a tea bag. It is only when she is in hot water that you realize how strong she is." Tea time offers so many wonderful possibilities for nurturing friendships, and if tea cups could talk, they would also say so much about the past and also about the future. For hundreds of years, "come for tea" has been another way of saying, "Come. Let's share a little bit of our lives together." If teacups could talk, their message no doubt would be, "use me." Warm Thoughts Over the Tea Cup: "If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are exhausted, it will calm you." William Gladstone. "She was passionately interested in everything I did. She spoke with candor and good grace. Then, defying the reality of crutches and straightened knee, on wings of hospitality, she flew to brew the tea. Tom Hegg from "A Cup of Christmas Tea." Have many warm thoughts over a cup of tea! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, August 8th, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Recently, I read a book by H. Jackson Brown Jr. entitled, "Live and Learn and Pass it On." In the book, people, ages 5 to 95 share what they have discovered about life, love, and other good stuff. Some of the thoughts are a bit humorous, but somehow we can get the message. I've personally discovered throughout my years that if we really listen, we can learn so much. The following are a few quotes from individuals, and it lists their age when they said these words. "I've learned that goldfish don't eat jello." Age five. "I've learned that trust is the single most important factor in both personal and professional relationships." Age 20. "I've learned that nothing of value comes without effort." Age 64. "I've learned that if you care, it shows." Age 30. "I've learned that kindness is more important than perfection." Age 70. "I've learned that education, experience, and memories are three things no one can take away from you." Age 67. "I've learned that self pity is a waste of time." Age 81. "I've learned that anger manages everything poorly." Age 53. "I've learned that some money costs too much." Age 51. "I've learned that if your children feel safe, wanted and loved, you are a successful parent." Age 39. "I've learned that encouragement from a good teacher can turn a student's life around." Age 44. "I've learned that I don't feel my age as long as I focus on my dreams instead of my regrets." Age 83. "I've learned that it is impossible to teach without learning something yourself." Age 51. "I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice." Age 15. "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn." Age 92. Warm Thought: A life, like a garden, requires cultivation. Have many warm thoughts every day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marion Record, August 1st, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

During July, in the month when we celebrate independence day, many patriotic thoughts come to mind as I see "Old Glory" wave high in the skies. If that flag could speak, what would it say? In my thought file, I have the following thoughts about our flag. "I am your flag. I was born on June 14th, 1777. I am more than just a cloth shaped into design. I am the refuge of the world's oppressed people. I am the silent sentinel of freedom. I am the inspiration for which American patriots gave their lives and fortunes. I have led your sons into battle from Valley Forge to the bloody ridges of Korea. I walk in silence with each of your honored dead to their final resting place beneath the silent white crosses, row upon row. I have flown through peace and war, strife and prosperity, and amidst it all I have been respected. My stripes symbolized the blood filled in defense of this glorious nation. My white stripes signify the burning tears shed by Americans who lost their sons. My blue field is indicative of God's heaven under which I fly. My stars, clustered together, unify 50 states as one - for God and country. "Old Glory" is my nickname and proudly I wave on high. Honor me, respect me, defend me with your lives and your fortunes. Never let my enemies tear me down from my lofty position, lest I never return. Keep alight the fires of patriotism, strive earnestly for the spirit of democracy, worship eternal God and keep His commandments and I shall remain the bulwark of peace and freedom for all mankind." Patriotic Thoughts: Patriotism is the sum of the three virtues - faith, hope and charity. Faith in the principles of our government, hope in the future of our country, charity toward all and malice toward none. Patriotism is that spirit that makes us help our neighbors when they are in distress, and extend sympathy when they are stricken. Patriotism is a tugging at our heartstrings in a sincere kinship with those who toil in the field, shop, or marketplace. Patriotism is loving one's country, respecting its traditions, and honoring its people - high or low, rich or poor. God bless America! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record July 31st, 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Many of the readers of this warm thoughts column are aware that I write these lines a week before you have the opportunity to read the column. When you read this column, I will have returned from the International Congress on the Family, which was held on July 5th - 9th in Denver, Colorado. So stay tuned to this column as I will share with you my personal experiences and thoughts from this Congress. As I write these lines, they're anticipating 6,000 participants from all over North America and around the world at this International Congress. Those who come we hope will gain a fresh perspective and a renewal of hope for the future of the family and for Christian family values. As I anticipate my attendance at this Congress, I cannot help but reflect on the International Congress for the Family held in England in July 1990. It was my joy to be in England that year and serve on the publicity committee for that Congress. Opening that Congress was the Princess of Wales and among the many outstanding speakers was Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa closed the conference with the theme, "Family - Community of Love." She has inspired many in servant leadership in her work with the poor and the sick. She won the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. Her love and concern for children has inspired many people to be advocates for the children of the world. Few people have matched the contributions this saintly woman has made to mankind. Now in her 80s, she continues her service to humanity. The 1995 International Congress on the family in Denver is a joint effort of the American Association of Christian counselors and Focus on the Family. Stay tuned and experience with me a landmark event, renewing our hope together for the future of the family. Warm Thoughts: Your kindness influences your children. Your humor influences your home. Your joy influences your actions. Your service influences your society. Author Unknown. Celebrate the family! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record July 13th, 1995.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The month of July is a very special month. July has many reasons to celebrate. Though not widely known, it was on July 2nd, not July 4th, that the Continental Congress passed the resolution declaring the independence from the colonies. We celebrate Independence Day on July 4th. Are you a celebrator? Having lived several years in the Fourth of July city, Seward, Nebraska, Independence Day has very special memories for me. Singing the Star Spangled Banner has inspired millions and moved many to tears. It is symbolized with the flag, what it really does mean to be a loyal American. Are you aware that it was here in the state of South Dakota, that the Star Spangled Banner received the first impetus which eventually led to its adoption as our national anthem? I was very impressed when I first learned about the history of this stirring song. It all happened in 1892, when Colonel Calb H Carlton assumed command of the 8th US Calvary Regiment at Fort Meade near Sturgis. Carlton writes in his memoirs, that he and his wife discuss the fact that the United States had no official song. Mrs. Carlton suggested they do something about it. It was at Fort Meade that Colonel Carlton ordered his Calvary band to play the Star Spangled Banner at all parades and formations. He further states that "all persons, including civilians, should rise respectfully and all men not under arms would remove their hats." Colonel Carlton promoted the idea beyond his own South Dakota base, and consequently the practice was adopted by other commanders. There was something patriotically contagious about the show of respect for the song and the flag it honored. It was a one sentence bill that passed on March 3rd, 1931, and signed by President Hoover that designated the Star Spangled Banner as the National Anthem of the United States of America. The patriotic custom began in the Black Hills, and so it gives our national anthem its roots in South Dakota. Patriotic Thoughts: Francis Scott Key, a lawyer, wrote the lyrics for our national anthem during the morning of September 14th, 1814. At the dawn's early light, he saw the American flag fly and in a burst of patriotic fervor, He hurriedly penned the immortal words, "We thank the father of our national anthem." With renewed patriotism, let's celebrate Independence Day. Happy Independence Day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. WernerPublished in the Marion Record, June 25th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

The first day of summer! Good old Summertime is very near. Next Sunday not only is the first day of summer, but it is also Father's Day. In our own special way, we honor our fathers on this day. We have very special memories. Many memories touched my heart as I read about the "Old Fashion Daddy." Daddy was from the Old SchoolDaddy was from the old school. He learned his lessons well. He passed them on to me, I'm not ashamed to tell. Daddy was from the old school, he worked hard every day. He didn't want a handout with dignity he earned his pay. Daddy was from the old school, a mixture of the right stuff. He knew how to be tender and he knew how to be tough. Daddy was from the old school, big boys weren't supposed to cry. Sometimes he would slip and I'd see tears in his eyes. Daddy was from the old school, he never took the last piece of cake. He would always nod at me, I knew it was mine to take. Daddy was from the old school, his clothes lasted a long time. He bought me the latest, sometimes spending his last dime. Daddy was from the old school, he loved the American way. He believed in freedom and guarded it every day. Daddy was from the old school, I didn't understand it back then. But now I fully see he was teaching me how to win. Daddy was from the old school, I guess I am too. Daddy, thank you for the lessons. I owe so much to you. These may be tears in your eyes as you too read about the Daddy from the Old School. "It takes a man to cry," is a thought not often expressed. Children are truly blessed by the wise actions of their fathers. Blessed be fathers who honor their responsibilities in guiding their families. A salute to fathers on Father's Day. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G WernerPublished in the Marian Record, June 18th 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this column, it will be only a few days before Flag Day. I have often wondered if "Old Glory" can tell her story, just what she might tell us. Recently, I read some warm thoughts which I'd like to share with you, my dear readers of this column. "Some people call me 'Old Glory.' Others refer to me as the 'Star Spangled Banner' or the 'Stars and Stripes,' but whatever they call me, I am your flag. I remember some time ago, people lined up on both sides of the street to watch a parade. And naturally, I was leading every parade - proudly waving in the breeze. What happened? I'm still the same old flag. But now I don't feel as proud as I used to be. When I come down your street, you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. Then I see the children running around and shouting. Is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Have people forgotten what I stand for? And where I've been?" Our flag was first raised on June 14th, 1777. And oh, it is more than a piece of cloth having a design of stars and stripes. It symbolizes the greatest nation on Earth. It has been the refuge of millions of oppressed people from everywhere. It has stood for freedom from want and fear. The red stripes symbolize hardiness and courage - the hardiness of the early pioneers, the courage of the common working man. The white stripe signify purity and innocence - the purity of the idealists who believe that each person is a child of God, and the innocence that strives for his right to be here. The blue field is indicative of vigilance, perseverance, and justice - the vigilance to protect man's freedoms and perseverance that rejects all defeat and justice, the goal of free men everywhere. The star is unified on the field of blue embrace the 50 states as one, unified for the good of mankind and country. Honor her, respect her, defend her. Never let her enemies from within or without, tear her down in shameful defeat. Lest she never rise again. Place God first and others second, that our nation will remain the bulwark of peace, freedom, and equal opportunity for all mankind. This is your flag. Let your heart salute her. Warm and Winsome Thoughts: Dear friends, let us protect and respect our flag, a symbol that is so important, significant and meaningful to those of us who love and honor and revere our country. Respect and protect our "Old Glory." Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record, June 11th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

June, the month for Children's Day, Father's Day, Flag Day, a month for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, bridal showers, weddings, graduations, family reunions and the celebration of family. I find it very interesting that Children's Day and Flag Day fall on the same day and Father's Day and the first day of summer are also on the same day this year. It is such a joy to listen to the children, for they seem to be our master teachers. One boy, a fifth grader said, without my father, it would be like a ball without any air inside it. It seems that something and every child no matter how old yearns to be connected with his father in an affirming relationship. Their heartfelt responses can really warm your heart. A recent Gallup poll brought out that 70% use very positive words like "great," "fantastic," "tremendous," "close," or "warm" in describing their relationship with their father. Dr. Ken Canfield, Director of the National Center on Fathering states, "Children, particularly when they are young, think their father is the smartest, richest, and strongest man on earth." Research and the experience of fathers confirms this statement. And how do we describe our children and our grandchildren? The sainted Erma Bombeck, who was famous for her column, "At Wit's End," wrote in an article which appeared in May 1977, that bringing up children is like flying kites. The following are her warm thoughts. "I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to let them off the ground. You run with them until you're both breathless, they crash. You add a longer tail. They hit the roof top, you pluck them out of the spout. You patch and comfort, adjust and teach. You watch them lift by the wind and assure them that someday they will fly. Finally, they are airborne, but they need more string and you keep letting it out. With each twist is a ball of twine. There is a sadness that goes with the joy because the kite becomes more distant. And somehow you know that it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that bound you together. And soar as it was meant to soar - free and alone. Only then do you know that you did your job."A Bit of Wisdom: "The best things to give a child - roots and wings." H. Carter. "There is just one way to bring up a child in the way he should go and that is to travel that way yourself." Abraham Lincoln. Give your child or grandchild a hug! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record, June 4th, 1998.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

This Warm Thoughts column on family, during National Family month, had a beginning as I was 16,000 miles in the air - flying over beautiful Ohio and returning from visiting families in Ohio. It was very special to be able to attend the grand opening of the Warner Funeral Services in Mansfield, Ohio. Another highlight of my Ohio visit was to be able to attend the graduation ceremonies of my granddaughter, Rosa Warner. Six-year-old Rosa was radiant as she walked across the stage and received her "Master's Degree in Kindness Acts" from kindergarten. It was so special for her two Grandmas to share that moment. This is the time of year for families to enjoy times together at graduations, weddings, and many family gatherings. It is no wonder that May 11th through June 15th has been designated "National Family Month." When you read this column, I will have flown back home to the little home on the prairie after attending my niece's wedding in a cathedral in St. Louis Missouri. Yes, home sweet home. And while I was gone, family enjoyed retreating in that little home on the prairie too. Thanks dear readers of this column for sharing your samplers about Home Sweet Home. Here's another sampler that brings grace and love to another home: Home is where the heart is. Home sweet home. There is no place like home. East or west, home is best. Home is where the heart is. Home sweet home. Warm Thought: When I graduated from college I remember the big, gray-haired, soft spoken professor of Greek, who handed us our diplomas and said, "Young ladies and gentlemen, it is not possible for everyone to have a great intellect but it is possible for everyone to have a great heart." When I felt hopelessly defeated, this thought came back to me. Author unknown. Some people come into our lives quietly go. Others stay for a while or leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same. Celebrate the family. Warm Thoughts from Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record on some day in May, the year of 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast,Spotify,Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

1900 to 1925 - The Missionary Generation - the happiest, most satisfied generation. This generation values family, God and church. 99 Nobel Peace Prizes have been won by this generation! 1926 to 1945 - The Sandwich Generation - 50 million in the US, they are sandwiched between boomerang children and aging parents. Family, school, and church are important. This generation also believes in hard work, frugality, loyalty. Early retiring husbands are in this generation. The sandwich generation is eager to reach out to other cultures, some joined the Peace Corps. 1946 to 1964 - Baby Boomers - 76 million in the US. They make up 45% of the adult population. Twice as many went to college as their parents. They are against sexism. They want help with their children and parents. They are the first generation to have television. 70% of Boomer women work outside the home - they waited until their 30s to have their babies. Two out of three Boomer women have been divorced. They like quality-quality projects and want lots of choices and options. They long for traditional values in raising children. 1965 to 1976 - The Baby Busters - 40 million in the US. They are also called the 13th generation, generation Y. They were born during the era of cable TV, fluctuating economy, and Desert Storm. High-tech, high touch, low self-esteem. They do not like planning and preparation. They are accustomed to divorce. Survivors. They are expected to become more conservative during midlife crisis. They want connection and diversity. 1977 to 1995 - The Baby Boomlets - the millennial eneration. This generation is less materialistic and more social conscious. They are highly informed. They believe religion and what parents believe is not so important. They are interested in community projects and mission endeavors. Will they become a missionary generation like their forefathers and foremothers? They may if there are enough left in that generation to mentor them. As we reflect on the past century, it is interesting that it is the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize. We even have a stamp to remind us about this anniversary. Mother Teresa was one of the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. When she was asked, "How can we bring peace to the world?" She answered, "Just go home and love your family." "We are not meant to do great things for God but small things with great love." Mother Teresa. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record, May 17th, 2001Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Snow showers in April bring us the month of May. Soon it will be the month of May - an exciting month of the year. A month of wonders. The amazing beauty and mystery of this world wraps itself into May. May is family month. There are the Mother's Day celebrations, graduations, and the May flowers help us celebrate and also honor the dead on loved ones graves. The beauty and drama of this world entwines the whole month of May. The first Thursday in May is National Day of Prayer. The entire month of April has been "Pray USA," and people everywhere have become more aware of the power of intercessory prayer. A National Day of Prayer has been an American tradition since the Continental Congress first declared its need for Godly wisdom in 1775. Then in 1952, Congress passed a joint resolution establishing an official day of prayer. The law was amended in 1988, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday in May. This year, one of the speakers in Washington DC will be Dr. John C. Maxwell. It was my privilege to attend a prayer seminar he presented recently in Houston, Texas. He is the author of the book "Partners in Prayer." His life was changed when a stranger came to him and stated, "John, I believe God has called me, a lay man, to disciple, encourage, and pray for pastors. And the reason I came here today is so that I could pray for you." With those words, John Maxwell saw his agenda replaced by God's agenda. This stranger who felt the need to pray for this pastor fulfilled a need in Maxwell that he didn't even know he had. The results were very evident fourteen years later in the 3,500 member church the pastor served. Many people who have become partners in prayer have strengthened their prayer life and reap the benefits of the power of prayer. Warm Thoughts: If you pray for one another, you will be helped yourself. Yiddish proverb. For more of our nation's life is shaped by prayer than is formed by legislation. The single most important action contributing to whatever health and strength there is in our land is prayer. Eugene Peterson. May the month of May bring you many warm thoughts! Warm Thoughts from Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record, April 24th, 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Easter joy! May all of you who read this column have a joyous Easter season. The day of Easter 1993 may be history, but the joy of that first Easter and the joy of every Easter sunrise service and every Easter celebration since that first Easter will live on and on. In my last column I shared some warm thoughts about Bethlehem and the plight to the Holy Land. If it were not for Easter, the season of Christmas would not be a celebration. Easter is truly a celebration of life. This past week, many people throughout the world celebrated the real reason for celebrating Easter. Many worshipped in their church, and some even traveled and made their pilgrimage to the Holy Land and walked the Via Dolorosa or the way of sorrows and traveled that road to Calvary. For many families, it was a time of loss and sorrow, but a time of growth as they share their grief. For many other families, it was a joyful time of being together and celebrating the season of Easter. Some schools experience spring break and holiday, and children especially appreciate this time of family togetherness. A survey was once taken and 1,500 children were asked this question, "What do you think makes a happy family?" We are so often surprised by the wisdom of children. They don't list money, cars, fine homes, or televisions. The answer they gave most frequently was "doing things together." And so we listen to the children. "I just love the stories my mom and dad tell me when I am tucked into my bed." "Singing together and going to church together as a family." "Vacation time when we can go to the hills." Yes, a time of togetherness. Perhaps as you think about celebrating family, you will agree with the results of the survey and listen to what the children in our lives are telling us. It is the time to celebrate Easter and new life and time to celebrate the family. A Warm Thought for the week: The greatest investment you can ever have is to spend time with your family. Have an Easter season filled with joy! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Canistota Clipper April 15th, 1993.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Happy Easter! After the long winter, the seeds of spring are beginning to appear. We are reminded once again that in our lives we will have times of winter, but spring will come as promised. Spring is a time when one gets the urge to travel with the birds and visit family and friends, renewing old friendships and making new friendships. This past weekend, it was my joy to travel back to my roots and visit family and see many of my old friends from years gone by. Celebrating a 40th wedding anniversary with family was one of the highlights of the journey. Traveling old familiar roads brought back many memories and can give one a bit of nostalgia. Memories, memories! As I traveled down memory lane, I cannot help but be reminded of that journey to the Holy Land twenty years ago this Holy Week. It was a "touch of heaven" as the seat buckles clicked in place in the mighty jet engines of the Jumbo 747 Star of Bethlehem revved up. And the hearts of over 400 passengers on El Al charter flight 2001 from New York to Tel Aviv began to soar. We all were excited about our mission tour. The Pat Boone Family were our hosts and as the huge blue and white birds bent down the runway, all heads were bowed as Pat Boone led us all in prayer over the plane's intercom. As the star in Bethlehem dipped down, strains of "peace be unto you" a national song of welcome felt the cabin the plane rolled to a halt. We were there. And everywhere we went we were greeted with "shalom." The 400 people on that Pat Boone tour found a new dimension of love the moment they stepped on the grounds of the Holy Land mission in Bethlehem. We came, we saw, and we were conquered by the love of the precious bent-winged angels and the orphan children in the mission complex. We saw the children we sponsored and gave our gifts of love which warmed their hearts. The voices of these happy orphans over our visit were like chirping birds on the playground on Mount David. They melted your heart and the wellsprings of the human spirit to overflowing joy. During this Holy Week, as one reflects on this pilgrimage on the 20th anniversary, it is with a warm heart and a thankful one as one is reminded of the events of this week. The journey from Bethlehem to Calvary and then to the empty tomb and the garden is an experience that one can never forget when you return home. The songs sung at the historic and sacred sites still ringing in the ears of those who made the trip. The memory of being greeted everywhere with "shalom" is a prayer for peace in our hearts for the year 1993. Shalom, shalom. A Warm Thought for the week: When the going gets tough, the peace of God keeps us a-going. Have a joy filled Easter season! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner. Published in the Canistota Clipper April 8th, 1993.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

As I flipped the calendar, I was shocked that it was April already and April Fool's Day. Some of the readers of this Warm Thoughts column will recall the fun we had as children and trying to fool someone on that day, even if we had to lie a bit. It did seem to be permissible for just a day. You tried to fool at least one person. It was just a fun game.The next day, April 2nd, has become Reconciliation Day. There is an interesting story about this special day. It was a California woman who wrote Ann Landers back in 1989, expressing a need for a reconciliation day. She expressed the need as she became aware that the years are flying by. Her parents suddenly seemed old and time somehow became very precious. She recalled misunderstanding and unmended fences that separate us and a sense of barriers. She stated in her letter the following words, "Wouldn't it be terrific if a special day could be set aside to reach out and make amends? We could call it Reconciliation Day. Everyone would vow to write a letter or make a phone call and mend a strained or broken relationship. It could also be the day on which we could all agree to accept the olive branch extended to a former friend. This day could be the starting place. We could go from there to heal the wounds and our hearts and rejoice and a new beginning."Ann Landers replied that it was a beautiful idea. She suggested that in the absence of a national holiday, it would be wonderful if every person would pick up the phone and call someone with whom he or she has had a falling out. She was sure that there would be some heartwarming results. She encouraged people to just do it and not wait for the telephone rates to change. The rest of the story is that the first reconciliation day was adjusted for April 2nd, 1989. On April 2nd 1992, the letter written by the California woman in 1989 was repeated in the Ann Landers column and Ann Landers stated that "from now on April 2nd will be Reconciliation Day." It may not be a national day of reconciliation, but it would be wonderful if everyone would have a reconciliation day. Your own reconciliation day is your choice. I personally think we all need an international day of reconciliation. And this is no April Fool's joke! Will appreciate your thoughts. You, the readers, have so much to share and I know you really care too.Thought for the Day: Life is too short to hold grudges, to be able to forgive can be enormous healing. Forgiving love can last a lifetime. Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record, April 3rd, 2003.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

Happy Easter! Easter and Spring have arrived. As I write these warm thoughts, it is the week before Easter and there still are some mountains of snow surrounding the little home on the prairie. My grandson, Trevor, who lives in Nebraska and who is spending some special vacation days with his grandma in South Dakota, is overjoyed to make an Easter snowman. Is spring really here in South Dakota? The events following Palm Sunday bring many memories of my past trips to the Holy Land. Walking the Via Dolorosa on the way to Calvary is a memory that often comes to mind not only during Holy Week. It was my special joy to make a pre-Easter pilgrimage and also a trip to the Holy Land at Christmastime. What memories. Climbing the hill of Calvary and worshiping in that Garden Tomb. Two of my friends entered the tomb in that garden with me and sang, "He is risen! He is risen, indeed!" The events that happened on Easter so many years ago, remain vivid in my mind having also walked that road of Emmaus the day before leaving the holy land to return to America. Thoughts from that beautiful hymn come to mind as I walked that road of Emmaus. "Abide with me this eventide. Thy walk with me, has made my heart within me burn as I commune with Thee. Thy earnest words have filled my soul and kept me near Thy side. O Savior, stay this night with me. Behold, tis eventide." Warm Thoughts: Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands. The seasons come and the seasons go and many of the changes they bring, but in the warmth of a mother's heart, it is forever spring. May you have a joy filled Easter season! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G Werner Published in the Marion Record, March 27th, 1997.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina

When you read this column, spring is on the calendar! Oh, the wonderland of spring. The birds begin to sing their springtime songs. Winter is past and sweet spring has come at last. The trees that once were lifeless will begin to turn green. Many schools throughout the country have had their spring break already and the next holiday to look forward to is Easter holiday. It is a time for special times with family and friends. Among the many Irish sayings, Irish Gerard Butler wrote some beautiful thoughts on family and friends which I would like to share with you. Family and Friends. The two things we're most grateful for our family and our friends. The care they have provided, the love so strong and true, the thoughtfulness that spoken in words and actions too. Our grandmas and grandpas, our mothers and our dads, our brothers and our sisters are there through good and bad. They're special friends to share with - our smiles, our hopes, our fears. With counting all God's blessings, gifts of love that never end. We can count on friends as family and our family as true friends. Every day is the day to count our blessings that we have with family and friends. More warm thoughts: Home is the resort of love, of joy, of peace and plenty. Where supporting and supported, polished friends and dearest relatives mingle in bliss. James Thompson. Time, like a snowflake, disappears while we're trying to decide what to do with it. Have a beautiful springtime day! Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Dr. Luetta G. Werner Published in the Marion Record, March 21st, 1996.Download the Found Photo Freebie and cherish your memories of the past.Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don't forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I'd greatly appreciate it.Till next time,Trina